Issuu

P4 URGENT NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS

P6 “MY MUM LOVED THE HOSPICE GARDEN”

Issue No.7 Autumn 2021

The Raphaelite

MAKE THE MOST OF EACH DAY! After working in the City, Colin was looking forward to his retirement and spent a lot of time preparing his exit strategy with a detailed plan of what he would do when he retired. A month into his retirement, he developed pain in his back. Colin was subsequently diagnosed with a bleed on his kidney and a tumor. He underwent surgery to remove the tumor however within two months the cancer had recurred. Colin had to face the distressing news that his condition was not actively treatable and that his life expectancy was limited. He was faced with the challenge that all his future plans were now at risk. Colin made the decision that he was going to try and achieve as many of his plans as possible. He was inspired by friends who had previously been diagnosed with cancer and how they had dealt with their illness. Colin was not going to let his friends down and wanted to make them proud. Giving up was not an option. He had a conversation with himself and said: "Colin, imagine that you are already dead and every day that you get is an extra day". Colin knew he would need both physical and psychological fortitude to get through all his planned treatments. He needed something to aspire to, something that he enjoyed. Visiting remote places around the world was one of his passions, as was fishing. So he set about arranging a fishing trip to Iceland.

Colin fishing in Iceland with the help of his hosts

In June 2020, despite some opposition to his undertaking the trip, Colin embarked on his fishing adventure. He was supported by the team in Iceland who had helped arrange it. He was thrilled to catch more fish in one afternoon than he had ever caught before. The trip enhanced his sense of wellbeing and confidence that he undertook three further fishing trips to Iceland although he was becoming weaker over time. Colin was very lucky and grateful to the genuine and helpful hosts who were always one step ahead of him and made it possible. To help sustain him over time, Colin regularly looked at the photos from these special trips. They brought to mind the joy of spending time Registered Charity No 1182636

ST RAPHAEL’S PUDDING DAY

in amazing places with wonderful people. Before his illness, Colin visited Alaska, Antarctica, and Svalbard. Through the fantastic wildlife and landscape photographs from these trips Colin was able to relive and enjoy his amazing memories and remember fondly the good friends he had made. Colin would like to share his story in the hope of inspiring other people with a life-limiting illness to make the most of each day and do the things they have been planning if they can. His advice is to take as many photos as possible to enable reliving those special moments and reactivating memories, which can SANTA put the amazing DASHinto every day. 12TH DECEMBER

A fun way to support your local Hospice with your family and friends.

LIGHT UP A LIFE CELEBRATION STREAMED LIVE

CELEBRATE A LIFE THIS CHRISTMAS!

P10 4TH DECEMBER

PUDDING DAY

P12

LOCAL SANTA DASH

www.straphaels.org.uk

The Raphaelite

TABLE OF CONTENTS P1

- Make the most of each day!

- Refreshed Inpatient Unit opens its doors - We have achieved our third Investing in Volunteers Award!

- Urgent need for volunteers - Why I wanted to volunteer for my local Hospice

- Wellbeing Centre welcomes its first Living Well Programme attendees - Students are welcome!

- “My mum loved the Hospice garden” - Staff Profiles

- Everyone is a winner!

- Christmas trees for Hospice fees - “Raising funds is the least I can do”

- Lavender Appeal raises £63,000! - Your hobby can do wonders

P10 - Recycle, Reuse, Refashion! P11 - First Medical Director of St Raphael’s Hospice - Sister Ann Venita

CONTACT DETAILS Hospice Care London Road, Cheam, SUTTON SM3 9DX Tel: 020 8099 7777 Email: enquiries@straphaels.org.uk

Fundraising (Donations, legacies, events and lottery) 1st Floor, Capitol House, 662 London Road, Cheam, SUTTON SM3 9BY Tel: 020 8254 2450 Email: supportercare@straphaels.org.uk

Volunteering London Road, Cheam, SUTTON SM3 9DX Tel: 020 8099 7777 (For Hospice Opportunities) Tel: 020 8254 2453 (For Retail & Fundraising Opportunities) Email: volunteering@straphaels.org.uk

WAYS TO DONATE

P12 - Events listing

Thank you for supporting the work we do You can make a donation in the following ways:

By calling Call our Supporter Care Team on 020 8254 2450 to make a donation by card or set up a regular standing order

By sending us a cheque

LIGHT UP A LIFE CELEBRATION STREAMED LIVE Sunday 5th December 2021, 4:30pm start Celebrate the lives of your loved ones and watch the St Raphael’s Christmas Tree lights being switched on, streamed live into the comfort of your own home.

Send a cheque made payable to: 'St Raphael's Hospice' Fundraising Department, 1st Floor, Capitol House, 662 London Road, Cheam, SUTTON SM3 9BY

By going online Click on the Donate button on our homepage at www.straphaels.org.uk

Gifts in Wills and Regular Donations To discuss how you can leave us a gift in your Will or make your donations regular, please e-mail or phone our Supporter Care Team on the contact details above.

www.straphaels.org.uk

REFRESHED INPATIENT UNIT OPENS ITS DOORS

We have been at the centre of palliative and end of life care services in Merton and Sutton since 1987 and have given our Inpatient Unit (IPU) a much-needed refresh.

outside when the weather allows. In 2019 we installed air-conditioning units in all the patient rooms which has been important during the recent hot days.

This had been a complex logistical exercise which has been planned for many months in order to minimise disruption to the care and support of patients and families whilst enabling the work to proceed.

Our aim is to ensure that everyone admitted to the Hospice comes into a comfortable and welcoming environment, as well as providing them with the expert individualised care from our passionate staff team, who aim to make their stay as good as it can be.

The IPU refresh is part of our drive to deliver excellence in all we do. The refresh included renewed low energy LED lighting, new radiators and flooring, a full re-decoration and new digital audio visual equipment to provide the choices our patients might be used to at home. A new ventilation system has also been installed to improve air flow for the en-suite facilities. Earlier in the year, the patios outside each patient room were re-laid for improved accessibility with new garden furniture, scented climbers and flowers so that patients and families can enjoy spending time

To undertake the work, the Hospice closed to admissions for five weeks. We were supported by neighbouring hospices that supported us by providing access to beds if an admission was needed. The Community Palliative Care Team (CPCT) continued to support people at home pro-actively with the benefit of extra medical and nurse support re-deployed from the IPU. It was a real team effort. The updated and refreshed IPU is now fit for the future and re-opened to accept admissions on August 31st.

Newly refurbished patient rooms

Patient rooms, patio and gardens

New reception

WE HAVE ACHIEVED OUR THIRD INVESTING IN VOLUNTEERS AWARD! We are delighted and proud to announce that we have achieved our third accreditation with the Investing in Volunteers Award for good practice in volunteer management. The attainment of this prestigious award demonstrates how we have continued to provide the gold standard in volunteer experience since 2016.

how much we value them. It recognises that volunteers are essential to the delivery and support of everything we do. Meeting the criteria of the NCVO Quality Standards represents our ongoing commitment to provide volunteer opportunities for anyone who would like to join us to support the work across the Hospice in retail, gardening, administration or patient support to name but a few.

Everyone at the Hospice would firstly like to say a huge thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who year on year continue to contribute to the excellent service we provide. Their enthusiasm and commitment during the pandemic has been inspiring to everyone.

It has been impossible for some of our volunteers to work during the Covid Pandemic, however as the future brightens we look forward to welcoming back familiar faces and in achieving this award, we hope to encourage many more new faces as well.

It is difficult to put into words how much our volunteers mean to us, but this award symbolises

Health and safety is of upmost importance to us. Our volunteers can rest assured that we are

Our Volunteer Services Leads proudly holding the award.

a Covid-safe working environment adhering to all infection control processes, including regular Covid-19 testing for all staff and volunteers. The achievement of the Investing in Volunteers Award reflects the importance we attach to investing in our volunteers who selflessly give their time and expertise to support the work of the Hospice. We look forward to continuing to work alongside all our current volunteers and to welcoming a new generation of volunteers to continue to deliver hospice services to everyone who needs us.

The Raphaelite

URGENT NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS The past eighteen months have shown what a compassionate, caring and dynamic community we live in across Merton and Sutton. So many members of our community have given time and resources to support neighbours in need. It has been inspiring and humbling at the same time. At St Raphael’s Hospice we are in great need of more volunteers to support the many strands of our service delivery as we emerge from the pandemic. For example, our shops team are doing a fantastic job and the sales figures are bucking the trend, but the team needs re-inforcements in order to sustain the success they are enjoying. Could you help with a four-hour shift on a regular basis? If this is not for you, there are many other ways to get involved. As a charity, each year our volunteer support equates to a vital £500,000 of value. If you could help to support us and ensure that our services continue to be available when they are needed, then please get in touch with the Volunteer Team. You will be assured of a friendly welcome and a diverse choice of roles, ranging from retail, fundraising, hospice neighbour, gardening, administration support, reception, Wellbeing Centre, IT, data analysis and many more. Your Hospice needs you! Please contact us at volunteering@straphaels.org.uk to find out how you can become part of the St Raphael’s team.

Our Retail Team are looking for volunteers

WHY I WANTED TO VOLUNTEER FOR MY LOCAL HOSPICE

When I was 18 I had a serious illness. The NHS came to my rescue and saved my life. I wanted to repay them and decided to work in the health sector. I had a great career for 25 years working in London for the Department of Health/NHS England. My aim was to retire at 58 and volunteer somewhere supporting health workers. I had always wanted to volunteer at a hospice but something was holding me back, as I had no experience of this environment and what it was like. In September 2019 my mother-in-law of 35 years was diagnosed with cancer and given 6-12 months to live. Little did I know how much things were about to change. Then Covid-19 arrived on the scene in March 2020. The health of my mother-inlaw had gone downhill by this time and we discussed as a family, the potential of getting support from a hospice. She wanted us to care for her at home and our local hospice made it possible. They were absolute angels and made her final weeks bearable for her and us.

In May 2020 my mother-in-law died at home, just as she had wanted. I woke up on New Year’s Eve and decided to draw a line under my working life, and took early retirement. I immediately contacted my local hospice, St Raphael’s, as it felt the perfect time to payback for all the invaluable support we had received.

I was accepted with open arms and started my volunteering in July helping their Retail and Fundraising Team. I feel privileged to be part of the St Raphael’s family, not only am I involved with and now one of an amazing team of individuals but I am giving my time because I want to, not because I have to. My life has changed completely. I now have precious family time and I have the time to help others. I have fulfilled my wish to payback the angels who provided invaluable service and support when it was very much needed. My mother-in-law would be so proud of me. Debbie

Our volunteer, Debbie

www.straphaels.org.uk

WELLBEING CENTRE WELCOMES ITS FIRST LIVING WELL PROGRAMME ATTENDEES Living Well Programme session

P5 On May 19th we launched our first Living Well Programme which was a huge success. It is an 8 week self-management course for adults living with a life-limiting, progressive or chronic illness in Merton and Sutton. It offers practical advice and information to support their wellbeing and an opportunity for social interaction and peer support. We held 8 engaging sessions and the topics included: • Your Diagnosis/Our Support • Sleep Well and Fatigue Management* • Benefits, Financial and Practical Support • Anxiety, Breathlessness and Relaxation • Your Wishes, Your Way (Wills, Lasting Power of Attorney, Preferred Place of Care) • Nutrition & Diet – altered appetite/taste changes

• Pain Management/Nausea Control (Q&A with a clinician) • Pamper Session* *These sessions include optional physical participation. Every session was well attended and everyone enjoyed listening to the guest speakers. Here is what our happy attendees had to say about the programme. Anxiety, Breathlessness and Relaxation “Very informative. I’ll be practicing the techniques. Thank you.” Nutrition and Diet “Very good discussion and two-way dialogue based on people’s personal experience. “ “This was a very good session. Lots of information, learned a lot. Would like to attend another session.” Pain Management/Nausea Control “I found this session very useful. Wish it could have gone on for longer.” “Benefits, Financial, and Practical Support” Very good, lots of valued information. Will recommend this session. Friendly and relaxed, helpful staff and kind.

If you would like to enrol onto the programme or know someone who would benefit from attending it, please call our Wellbeing Team on 020 8099 1722.

STUDENTS ARE WELCOME! My name is Thushani and I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to volunteer at St Raphael’s. I have just finished year 12 and I am going into my final year at sixth form. I am an aspiring medic, which has been both challenging and exciting to explore with the pandemic. Whilst being offered virtual programmes, I was keen to understand the dynamic in a healthcare setting. After completing two days of work experience at Royal Trinity Hospice, I was eager to find a long-term placement. My first week at St Raphael’s included volunteering at the Wellbeing Centre. It has been incredibly insightful to see and be a part of the team who are always striving to provide the best care and make sure patients are as comfortable as possible. Observing and being talked through

why things are done in a certain way has helped me to gain a patient’s perspective. I learned that patients like to be independent, which led me to understand that it is important to know when to step in and when to step back. I have been able to communicate with the patients and staff around the Hospice which has helped me to step out of my comfort zone and interact with people who are not my age. I have also been able to understand what makes a great healthcare specialist, such as being approachable, easy to talk to, positive and helpful. St Raphael’s is offering me a wide range of placements. The staff are also extremely friendly and more than happy to help which is why I am glad to have chosen to volunteer with them. I am very excited to continue with St Raphael’s and learn so much more!

The Raphaelite

“MY MUM LOVED THE HOSPICE GARDEN” My mum, Joanne, was amazing. She was an angel to anyone who was lucky enough to meet her. She would give anything to anyone who needed it. She was only 57 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, and from diagnosis to her death was a little over 6 months; just 3 weeks after her 58th birthday. Our mum wanted to be in the Hospice, as she didn't want us to have memories of her final days in the family home. She wanted support for my sister and me too. The weekly counselling support we received has made such a difference. We could not have coped without it. The nurses at the Hospice were all amazing, looking after mum and taking care of us too. They made sure we ate, drank and had enough rest. They would make us sandwiches and raid any snacks they could to make sure we had eaten as we didn't want to leave mum’s side.

During mum’s admission we used the patio lots and sat out watching the wildlife in the garden with her. She absolutely loved the garden. It was here we had some of our hardest conversations with our mum about funeral plans and her wishes, as well as talking about how we and her two grandsons would continue to living after she had gone. Conversations that as little as eight months ago I wouldn't have dreamt we'd be having. My sons (aged 4 and 9) were her world and she was theirs. It still doesn't feel real… Mum lost her fight on 25th June 2021. My sister and I along with 4 friends took part in the Snowdon at Night challenge on the 7th August in mum’s memory, as a small token of our appreciation to St Raphael’s Hospice. We cannot thank you enough for all your help in our mum’s final chapter and we will be forever grateful. By loving daughters, Tasha and Jade Joanne and her grandchildren

Hi, my name is Gaby and I am one of the three new medical consultants here at St Raphael’s Hospice, and also the newly appointed Caldicott Guardian for the organisation. I joined the organisation in September 2020 having returned from maternity leave, and am working Mondays - Thursdays. To date, I have been predominantly based in the community, as well as providing one session a week at St Helier Hospital where I try to see patients known to the Hospice for continuity of care and support of working relationships with our colleagues in the acute sector. Prior to this job I worked as a Locum Consultant at St George’s Hospital in Tooting. We have just moved house, so in my spare time (limited since becoming a mum!) I am looking forward to renovating and decorating our new home, and exploring the local Surrey countryside.

Hello, I’m Jenny. I started as a new palliative medicine consultant at St Raphael’s in September 2020, having completed my training in London, Surrey and Sussex, with experience in acute hospital, Inpatient Hospice and community settings. Currently occupying the role of Lead Consultant, I am embracing the challenge of navigating our team through the choppy waters that Covid-19 has presented, sharing new ideas and striving for excellence in all we do for the community we serve. I have an interest in Medical Education, pursuing a Masters degree through the Royal College of Physicians and UCL and I am passionate about poetry, creative writing and writing for wellbeing. I have two young children who keep me on my toes and awake at night, so a cup of coffee is rarely far from my side. In my ‘spare time’ I enjoy writing and a sprinkling of am dram.

My name is Naomi and I have just started at St Raphael’s Hospice, having worked previously as a Palliative Care Consultant at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill for 13 years. I have already found the team here to be extremely friendly and welcoming. It is a very exciting time for the Hospice with the newly refurbished unit and it is great to get to be a part of that. Outside of work, I am married to James, with two children Katie (18) and Michael (16). I spend my free time walking our Cocker Spaniel and helping out with church activities. I enjoy reading, visiting coffee shops and eating cake!

STAFF PROFILES

www.straphaels.org.uk

EVERYONE IS A WINNER! Marcia is one of our 7,314 lottery members who has been supporting us since January 2016. She first heard of St Raphael’s Lottery, whilst visiting her terminally-ill father back in December 2015. Marcia was keen on a weekly flutter and the idea that it would go towards a good cause, made it an even more attractive offer. When the right time came, she filled in the membership form and signed up for 14 lines a week. Marcia not only has been a regular donor through our lottery, but she has also won a number of prizes during that time. She won the first prize of £1,000 in 2018 and also enjoyed numerous £10 wins and one £50 win. St Raphael’s Hospice lottery is one of the popular ways of supporting a worthwhile local cause. It offers a weekly 1st prize of £1,000 guaranteed plus 18 other cash prizes including our 2nd prize rollover of up to £10,000. Each weekly entry costs just £1. Our lottery has raised over £6 million, since its launch in 2001 so sign up today by filling out the form below and make a difference.

If you signed up to our weekly lottery you'd also get a soft toy, Lotty or Lenny

Marcia said: “The lottery is a fun way to support the Hospice and everyone’s a winner. Whilst you may not win that week, the Hospice always gains a donation from it.”

LOTTERY MEMBERSHIP I would like to join St Raphael’s Lottery

Please complete this form and return to St Raphael’s Hospice Lottery, London Road, Cheam, SUTTON SM3 9DX. Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms / Other......................... (please delete as appropriate) First Name:

Surname:

Address: Postcode: Tel No:

Email:

I have signed up for an Annual Direct Debit and would like to receive my FREE St Raphael’s Soft Toy (please tick preference) Lottie Lioness

Service User Number

1 entry per week

£52.00 every year £26.00 every 26 weeks (half-yearly) £13.00 every 13 weeks (quarterly) £4.34 every month

2 entries per week

Registered Charity No 1068661

£104.00 every year £52.00 every 26 weeks (half-yearly) £26.00 every 13 weeks (quarterly) £8.68 every month

How I would like to pay. Debit card only I enclose a cheque/postal order made payable to St Raphael’s Hospice Lottery OR

I confirm that I am over 18 years of age and a British resident: Signed:............................................................................. Date..........................

Lenny Lion

I would like to play and will buy:

Please charge my debit card for the amount of £......................... Card No: OR

Expiry Date:

Pay by Direct Debit Please complete the Direct Debit Instruction below. This is the method of payment most preferred by the Hospice as it keeps admin costs to a minimum.

Reference Number (for office use only)

Name and full address of your Bank/Building Society To: The Manager (Bank/Building Society Name):

Bank/Building Society Account Number

Signature(s)

Branch Sort Code

Address: Date

Postcode: Name(s) of Account Holder(s)

Rest assured, we never share, swap, rent or sell our supporters’ details to other charities or third parties for marketing purposes. You can read how we manage and respect your data in our Privacy Policy Notice at https://www.straphaels.org.uk/privacy

Instruction to your Bank or Building Society

Please pay St Raphael’s Hospice Lottery Direct Debits from the account detailed in this Instruction, subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this Instruction may remain with St Raphael’s Hospice Lottery and if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society. Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account. We will send you details confirming your Direct Debit and the Direct Debit Guarantee.

The Direct Debit Guarantee - To be retained by the payee

• The Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits • If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit the organisation will notify you (normally 10 working days) in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request the organisation to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request • If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by the organisation or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society • If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when the organisation asks you to • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify the organisation. St Raphael’s Hospice Lottery is Registered with the Gambling Commission under reference 031418

You must be a resident of Great Britain and be over 18 years of age to either play or sell lottery tickets.

StRaph_LotteryAd_SuttonGuardian.indd 1

28/11/2018 11:30

The Raphaelite

CHRISTMAS TREES FOR HOSPICE FEES

Buy your Christmas Tree and support your local Hospice!

Eddie is one of our long-standing local supporters who has been helping the Hospice since 2004. When his brother-in-law and later his partner died with us, he wanted to give something in return. As Eddie was a Christmas tree man, he decided to spread the spirit of giving by donating a percentage of every Christmas tree sold. With the help of the Fundraising Team at the Hospice, he worked hard to spread the word in Merton and Sutton, and to encourage people to support St Raphael’s. Eddie has raised over £3,000 so far and will be selling Christmas Trees this year too. He sells a range of trees and can give you advice on how to choose the tree that is right for you and how to look after it so you can admire it for longer.

If you would like a Christmas tree and at the same time support a good cause, please email or call Eddie for orders and more info by the 14th of November: yedvart1@gmail.com; 07909764285. Eddie, the Christmas Tree Man

“RAISING FUNDS IS THE LEAST I CAN DO” Neil runs an electrical company - Neil Wadsworth Electrical Ltd, based in Worcester Park. He tells us why he has been supporting his local hospice.

Leading up to Christmas 2020 I helped the Hospice with their Christmas hamper appeal by raising £400 to buy the items for their hampers.

I started supporting St Raphael’s after my dad’s death at St Raphael’s in February 2020.

As part of our most recent initiative, we collect £2 from every job we carry out as a company and put it aside. We then donate it across 5 chosen charities every 6 months or so. We have recently sent £88 to St Raphael’s. This is something we are now going to continue over the coming years.

Firstly, we set up a donations page for anyone who wanted to send flowers for the funeral and suggested people donated to the Hospice instead. Over a few weeks £3,513 were raised.

Our collecting can travels with Neil

Having seen the work undertaken at St Raphael’s first-hand, it’s obvious why donations and fundraising are so important. It is a such a vital place and goes above and beyond the care of the patient, supporting the family and those close to the patient. I got to witness how wonderful and kind-natured all the staff were and will always be grateful for the care given to dad during his admission. Raising funds to support the vital work of the hospice is the least I can do.

Neil with items for our Christmas Hampers

www.straphaels.org.uk

LAVENDER APPEAL RAISES £63,000!

Thanks to the community, our Lavender Memory Appeal has been a roaring success. Following on from last year, we teamed up with the Mayfield Lavender Farm to create a stunning memorial at their site in Banstead to celebrate and commemorate the lives of those we have lost. Everyone who donated received personalised lavender markers and we were delighted with the response. Together you have raised over £63,000! As part of the appeal we also held a Lavender Walk and we were thrilled that it was our first physical fundraising event for over a year and a half - since the pandemic kicked in. Everyone adorned their purple memorial shirts on Saturday 26th June, and embarked on a six-mile memory walk through and around the beautiful Mayfield Lavender Farm.

It was so uplifting (spiritually and physically!) to be back out in the sun with all our amazing supporters taking part in an event. We had over 170 of you

Memorial boards

complete the walk and receive your medal as well as virtual walkers who trekked separately. Together we raised £14,669 in addition to the appeal. Considering the year we all had, we could not have been more thrilled.

As you know, the money raised goes a long way to supporting the Hospice provide services for the local community, so thank you once again to all of the amazing participants. We also want to give a special thank you to Lorna, Brendan and the team at Mayfield Lavender Farm, our marshals, volunteers, sponsors, photographers, as well as our Fundraising Team for making the day so special. It has been a challenging time for us with the closure of our shops, not being able to hold events and losing many volunteers who were not able to work alongside us over the course of the pandemic, so we are very grateful to be back on the road to normality and look forward to holding more fun fundraising events with you!

In-memory walkers

YOUR HOBBY CAN DO WONDERS Janet, our volunteer, who helps on Hospice reception and in the Fundraising Office, has been knitting away throughout the pandemic.

Ready to start Registered Charity No 1182636

ST RAPHAEL’S PUDDING DAY A fun way to support your local Hospice with your family and friends.

Janet likes knitting and to keep herself occupied during lockdown she turned to her knitting books. Friends asked if she could knit for them and Janet struck a deal whereby she would provide the labour, yarn and stuffing, and the recipient would donate direct to the Hospice. She knitted in quiet times while supporting on reception at the Hospice which gave publicity to her incredible creations, they've proved to be very popular especially as presents for children and new born babies. Janet has sold more than 10 and continues to knit in aid of St Raphael's Hospice. Well done, Janet, we find every animal knitted simply adorable.

4TH DECEMBER 020 8254 2450 straphaels.org.uk/puddingday Lovely Janet and her creations

Baby Hayden, aged 2 days!

The Raphaelite

RECYCLE, REUSE, REFASHION! Our shops are a great way to recycle and be good to the planet! Donating your preloved items means we can raise much needed funds which go directly to delivering patient care, and avoid the items going to land fill. Things you no longer have space for or are tired of can have another life through our shops. It couldn’t be easier to donate; we have a Donation Centre in Sutton where you can bring all your goods. We prepare them and deliver them to our stores based on customer demand. You can also increase the value of your donation by signing up to Gift Aid if you are able. Any items that are identified as unsellable or haven’t been purchased after being sent to one or more of our shops are recycled and sold to our rag merchant. We currently have nine shops: our boutique stores in Wimbledon Village and Cheam, high

street stores in Banstead, Carshalton, Raynes Park and Stonecote Hill, and clearance stores in Sutton, New Malden & Rosehill where every item is under £3. We have also just opened a large format store in our Donation Centre in Sutton, selling larger items and surplus stock. There are many hidden treasures to be found when shopping with us; a pair of Louboutins, a Cartier watch, a set of real pearls, a Miu Miu dress, an Asprey handbag as well as highstreet fashion from Zara, H&M and New Look, and online designs from Boohoo and Pretty Little Things. On top of this, there are countless pieces of objects - d’art, paintings, prints, ceramics and glass as well as ephemera and memorabilia. We have books from every genre, brit pop to the classics, Harry Potter to Dr Zeus, children’s toys, kitchenware and so much more.

All this is only made possible because of our donors and our incredible staff and volunteers. Sorting and preparing the items ready for you to walk in the door and find just what you are looking for takes thousands of hours. Making our stores look beautiful, smelling fresh and clean, involves hundreds of people and keeping the doors open is our top priority. Covid-19 has meant that some of our volunteers have had to stay away and we are now looking to recruit an army of willing volunteers to keep the doors open every day, offering you the chance to come in and find that special item you are looking for. If you have as little as four hours a week, we want to hear from you. Being a part of our team is hard work, but also fun and very rewarding, especially knowing that the money we raise goes to supporting the people of Merton and Sutton when they need it most.

You can find out everything you need to know about saving the environment, recycling, where our stores are, and how to donate and volunteer on our website at www.straphaels.org.uk/volunteering; www.straphaels.org.uk/donating-goods or by calling our Supporter Care Team on 020 8254 2450.

Sutton Donation Centre

Boutique in Wimbledon Village

www.straphaels.org.uk

P11

FIRST MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF ST RAPHAEL’S HOSPICE Margaret Wheildon was a consultant anaesthetist at St Helier and Sutton Hospitals. Her expertise in pain management led to her involvement in palliative care and St Raphael’s Hospice. Sister Mary Perpetua was the chief inspiration behind the foundation of the Hospice. The Daughters of the Cross donated the land and money towards its building. Margaret shared that vision and played a major role in bringing it to fruition. She was part of the panel recruiting home care team sisters from April 1986. This team worked out of an office in St Anthony’s Hospital while the Hospice was being built. They continued playing a vital role once the Hospice opened in April 1987 and Margaret became the Medical Director.

She helped develop the range of services (Inpatient care, home care team and day centre) and important links with local GPs and district nurses. Margaret had 2 very young children when she became a widow. Training to be a consultant anaesthetist as a single mother was a remarkable achievement. Many years later she met Edwin who was a widower. They married in 1989 and had 30 happy years together, enhanced by 14 grandchildren. Tragically they both died in May 2021 in separate hospitals. A joint funeral was held on June 15th in St Mary’s Church, Stoke d’Abernon, the church where they were regular worshippers. St Raphael’s Hospice was represented by Norman McWhinney, Hospice Chairman and also a friend of the couple. Our loving sympathy goes out to their families.

Dr Margaret Wheildon

SISTER ANN VENITA Sister Ann Venita Britto is a Catholic Nun who belongs to the Congregation of the Daughters Of the Cross of Leige. Sister Ann was born and grew up in Bombay (Mumbai) India. After High School and obtaining a Teaching Credential she entered the convent and has been a Sister for 54 years. In 1976 Sister Ann volunteered to go to California to teach in one of the Convent's schools in Tracy where she was Principal for 10 years. In 1985 she moved to Stockton where she taught Kindergarten for 17 years. In 2002 Sister Ann was transferred to Manteca, California where she did Pastoral Care and Ministry to the sick, the old, the homebound, the physically handicapped. In addition she did Prison Ministry and helped abused women and children in the Pregnancy Centre. Her work as well as her outreach to these Ministries won her many awards.

In 2008 she was inducted into the Hall Of Fame in Manteca California. In 2010 she was awarded the St Anthony's Educational Foundation Award. In 2012 she got the Diamond Lady Of Manteca Award, in 2014 she received the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for all her good work and in 2018 the Bishops Award for her religious ministerial services. Sister Ann's involvement in all these works won her the title of Mother Theresa Of Manteca. After 45 years of faithful service in California Sister Ann was transferred to England in 2019 and was delighted to come to volunteer in St Raphael's Hospice. At present, Sister Ann is in charge of Pastoral Care and also helps in the Psychological Support Services with Bereavement Sessions.

The Raphaelite

 2021/22 EVENTS CALENDAR ST RAPHAEL’S PUDDING DAY Date: Saturday 4th December Venue: You choose!

SKYDIVE DAY Date: Saturday 14th May Start: Old Sarum Airfield, Salisbury

WING WALKING Date: You Choose! Start: Damyns Hall Aerodrome, Essex

VIRTUAL LIGHT UP A LIFE SERVICE Date: Sunday 5th December Venue: Online

LONDON MARATHON Date: 2nd October 2022 (applications deadline 15th November 2021) Start: Greenwich Park, London

ULTRA-CHALLENGES Walk, jog or run distances up to 100km

SANTA DASH Date: Sunday 12th December Start: Nonsuch Park, Cheam

GIVE UP TO GIVE BACK Date: Open all year (Stoptober, Dry January or Lent) Start: You Choose!

Date and Venue: Multiple events throughout 2022

SCAN FOR EVENTS PAGE

SANTA DASH

Give someone the chance to

12TH DECEMBER

WIN £1,000 Every week with a St Raphael’s lottery gift voucher

020 8254 2457

……

r…

fo ift

cia pe

u yo t to gif

is…

……

… ……

……

…w

……

el’s

……

… ..

.. ..

… ..

k ee ew spic

.. .

y ter lot

ck!

f lu to

……

…

S to y in

ntr

k ee

……

… ……

……

…

red

te gis Re

ari

-00

-31

8-N

ce e 06 ren spic 45 refe …… er ho 41 …… nd cal 0 2 nu …… sio r lo 37 m… mis ou on 0 ber y om Fro C t m e r g lin po lin nu mb up ot er Ga d s y H ch the an tter vou ith dw ing ’ Lo e gift tere lay l’s gis t p hae iqu Re tar Rap ur un s To ll St yo ca oting qu 1

… ……

Rollover prize of up to £10,000

18 other cash prizes guaranteed

WALK, SKIP OR RUN AND HAVE A GREAT FAMILY FUN Nonsuch Park or route of your choice

020 8254 2450 straphaels.org.uk/santadash21 StRaphs_LotteryGiftVoucher_Lflt.indd 1

20/01/2021 14:21

St Raphael’s Hospice, London Road, Cheam, SUTTON SM3 9DX Tel: 020 8254 2450 St Raphael’s Hospice registered Charity No: 1182636